Ecija mayor back in office, 60-day preventive suspension nullified
PEŇARANDA, Nueva Ecija — Municipal Mayor Joselito A. Ramos, who was served a 60-day preventive suspension order by Gov. Aurelio M. Umali last November 10 is back in office.
This after the preventive suspension imposed against him was reversed and set aside by the Office of the President which issued a resolution granting his “very urgent petition” to nullify the said suspension order for “lack of evidence” and for being “unreasonable.”
“The Order dated 26 October 2021 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Ecija and the Notice of Preventive Suspension dated 08 November 2021 issued by appellee Governor Aurelio M. Umali are hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE,” read a dispositive portion of the seven-page resolution signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea by authority of the President on Dec. 29, 2021.
It was learned that due to the Malacaňang order, Ramos’ 60-day suspension order, which is supposed to end on January 9, was cut short, paving the way for his return to “active duty status” at the town hall as town mayor.
The Office of the President’s reversal order stemmed from an administrative case for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority filed against him before the SP by Jaime Barlis, a messenger assigned at the mayor’s office since 2008, who claimed that the mayor had been harassing him.
In his petition, Ramos argued that Barlis failed to prove that he has witnesses who are willing to testify on his behalf against the mayor. He also said Barlis failed to substantiate his allegations that there were documentary evidence whose safety and integrity may be compromised by the continuance of the former in office.
“Considering the foregoing, this Office finds that the reversal of the assailed Order of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is warranted,” said the Palace order.
